USGBC Tackles Building Performance Head On

By Ana Maria Valle

The goal of any successful health care project is to build highly efficient buildings where medical staff can deliver excellent care to patients, and to create an environment that is appealing and comfortable for patients, visitors and medical staff. In addition to these primary objectives, creating an environment that meets or exceeds the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996 (HIPAA) oral privacy standards not only makes legal sense, it communicates to patients how important it is to protect their privacy.

HIPAA regulations address the security and privacy of “protected health information” (PHI), with an emphasis on acoustical privacy to safeguard confidential conversations and visual privacy of a patient’s medical records. While creating successful acoustic environments can be challenging, regular sound assessments and acoustical maintenance of equipment are essential to maintaining an auditory environment that promotes the effectiveness of caregivers as well as patient rest and healing.

Grid walls, wood finished surfaces, wall coverings, Venetian Plasters, faux painted surfaces; all examples of ‘high value walls.’ These shouldn’t have nails, or other fasteners, driven into them. Protect your valuable wall surfaces. AS Hanging Systems’ Click Rail track was installed and painted to match the vintage wood paneling of this government office building. No future holes – even with the number of administrations this space will be asked to host over its lifetime.

USGBC Tackles Building Performance Head On
The U.S. Green Building Council recently launched the Building Performance Initiative, which, among other objectives, was designed to put in place a comprehensive data collection effort from all buildings that have achieved LEED certification.
Read more »

Celebrating 25 years of its innovative Pearlescence Collection, Lamin-Art introduces new colors, new finishes, and an expanded selection of expressive and unconventional options to create distinctive interiors. With 50 colors and six finishes to choose from, Lamin-Art offers the widest Pearlescence high-pressure decorative laminate range in the industry. With its eye-catching qualities, Pearlescence is perfect for commercial and institutional designs including hotels, restaurants, schools, and retail environments.